Garter.



J. P. CROASDALE.

GAHTER.

APPLICATION FILEDVMAY 28. 1909.

Pate nted July 25, 1916.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

JOHN P. CROASDALE, BERWYN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PIONEER SUSPENDEB' COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GARTER.

Patented July 25, rare.

Application filed May 28, 1909. Serial No. 498,842.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN P. 'CnoAsnALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berwyn, in the county of Chesterjand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Garter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mens garters.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved structure, now known in the art as rustless, that is, a structure in which the metal parts are completely covered or protected on the underside, so that no metal part shall touch the undergarment upon which it is worn, or the leg, in case the garter is worn directly next to the skin. This structure has become extremely desirable for summer wear in connection with knee drawers, since it has been found that the metal parts are aifected by perspiration to cause discoloration and even sometimes poisoning, when coming in direct contact with the skin.

The present invention therefore comprises means for preventing any of the metal parts coming in contact with either the undergarment with which the garter may be worn, or in contact with the skin when the garter is worn directly thereon.

My invention also comprises an improved structure designed to give the freest movement and adjustment of the various parts, so that they will accommodate themselves with least friction, td the various lines of strain, and to the various movements or positions of the limb upon which the garter is worn.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is aperspective view of my completed garter with a castoff disconnected. Fig. 2 is a middle vertical section of the parts of the garter comprising my invention, with the pendant brought into alinement with the leg band. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the underside of same. Fig. 4 is a perspective View, of the metal connecting members. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing an alternative structure for securing a similar result.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The band 4 is adapted to encircle the leg, and is provided at one end with the con necting member 6 and at the other end with the hook or other suitable cast-off 5.

The connecting member 6 is suitably formed and slotted for threading the web as follows: In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive I show the connecting member 6, provided with the slots 7, 8 and 9, with the outer margin of slot 7, being bar 10, below the plane of the member 6, and. the bar 11, which separates slots 8 and 9, above the plane of said member. With this structure the end of band 4, which is usually provided with the metal tip 12, is inserted through the slot 7 from the upper side of the member 6. The band is then bent around bar 10, and, passing under the member 6, is threaded upwardly through slot 8, then carried over bar 11 and threaded through slot 9, and beneath bar 13. The portion of member 6 between slots 8 and 9 is so bent as to bring the web closely to gether beneath bar 11, which is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The amount of bending may be varied to suit. any particular requirement of thickness of web or of metal. The two portions of the web between bar 11 may be brought very close together or may be allowed to be somewhat separated. In any case the web on the underside of member 6 completely protects the metal from contact with the leg.

In Fig. 5, the connecting member 6 is perfectly flat but similarly slotted. With this structure, the method of threading the web 4 is preferably as follows: through slot 9 from the underside, then through slot 8 from the upper or outer side, then through slot 7 from the underside, then around the lower end and back underneath the member 6, again through slots 9 and 8 between the previously threaded web and bar 11 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. In either case the underside of member 6 is completely protected from direct contact with the leg;

Other ways of threading the web in member 6 might possibly be employed to secure the same end, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

To the connecting member 6 is secured the clasp supporting member, 14 providedv with a slot 15 at its lower extension for engaging the welo 16 which supports the clasp 17. The member 14 is secured to connecting member 6 by an eyelet pivot 18, having an aperture in the center for receiving the hook or other suitable cast-off 5. This connection between member 14 and 6, is a loose connection, so as to permit a swinging movement of clasp 17 about the pivot 18. The advantage of this construction is that the engagement of the band 4 upon the leg is a substantially stationary or fixed engagement; the entire contact between leg andgarter being a fabric contact; that is, the band 4 which lies beneath the connecting member 6 is held firmly against the leg when the cast-off is connected in the aperture of pivot 18 and there is substantially no movement between the leg band and the leg. WVhatever adjustment therefor may be desired between the stocking and the leg band is permitted by the swiveling of the connection between the leg band and the clasp 17, and this also without any undue friction between any part of the webbing and the leg especially where there is a pressure between said webbing and the leg.

By an inspection of Figs. 2, 3 and 5 especially, it will be seen that no metal part can possibly come in contact with the leg because of the webbing underlying the same. It will be understood that the part 14, a portion of which shows beyond the webbing in Fig. 3, is supported sufiiciently away from the leg, by the connecting member 6, and the underlying layers of band 4, to prevent any possibility of contact. It is also to be noted Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the that the part of webbing or band at which lies beneath or below the connecting member 6 as shown in Fig. 3, and over which the connecting member and cast-off engage, is the part where the greatest pressure is exerted between the garter and the leg, and this part is adapted to be substantially stationary when the garter is in place, while member 14 and its suspended webbing 16 and clasp 17 are free to swing independent thereof. The hook member 5 is adjustably secured to the free end of band a by means of the usual slide 19.

What I claim is The combination of a leg band, a slotted connecting member having the leg band threaded therein to completely cover the underside thereof to form a pad adapted to be held in a stationary position against the leg, means for disengageably connecting the other end of the band with said connecting member, a clasp, a supporting band therefor and means for connecting the band to the connecting member so it will have a. free swinging movement in a plane beyond that of the pad. Y

Witnesses:

MAE HOFMANN, HOWARD S. OKIE.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

